Gripper mechanism



C F. PYM.

GRIPPER MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1911. I 1 ,344, 3 1 6Patented June 22, 1920.

. mm R. NM R. mm. 5%

. g Qw H @w UNITED STATES CHARLES F. PYM, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS,ASSIGNOR, BY

PATENT OFFICE.

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A COR-PORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GRIPPER MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J He 22 1920 Originalapplication filed June 24, 1911, Serial No. 635,183. Divided and thisapplication filed November 6, 1917. Serial No. 200,607.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. PYM, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State ofhlassachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in GripperMechanisms, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification like reference characters onthe drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to gripper mechanisms for use in the manufactureof boots and shoes and is shown as embodied in a mechanism for engagingthe upstanding edges of the shoe upper materials to assist in conformingthe upper materials to the last. This application is a division of myapplication, Serial No. 635,183, filed June 24:, 1911, and accordinglythe present invention is illustrated and described as em-- bodied in atoe lasting mechanism corresponding to that of: the application referredto but is not intended to be limited to use in connection with machinesof that character.

In the lasting of shoes, the upper materials are conformed to thecontour of the last and are folded over the edge of the bottom of a solemounted on the bottom of the last and tacked or otherwise secured tosaid sole. Gripper mechanisms may be advantageously employed in thelasting opera tion to grip the upstanding edges of the upper materialswhich extend. around the edge of the sole and to stretchand tension saidmaterials and conform them closely to the last.

The upstanding edges of the different layers of the upper materials arefound in actual practice to be more or less spread apart so thatgrippers, to be most effective, should provide a relatively wide openingbetween their opened vgripping jaws to receive these upstanding edgesand should be so con-I structed as to gatherin all of the up oermaterials when their jaws are closed. dvantageously a closing movementas short as practicable should be required for one or both jaws. I i

One feature of my invention consists in a novel construction of gripp rmechanism providing gripping jaws arranged in open position to a flord arelatively wide opening to receive the upper materials, the jaws beingarranged to have a short relative clos- 1ng movementas shown a combineddownwardly sliding and inwardly swinging movement of a movable jawrelatively to a fixed jaw-effective to gather in all of the uppermaterials between the jaws.

When grippers are employed in the lasting of shoes to pull and stretchthe upper into close conformity to the last, the best results will besecured by gripping the upper close to the plane of the sole. Vith thisend in view, a further feature of. the invention consists in a novelconstruction and ar rangement of gripper jaws in which one jaw ismovable relatively to the other from a starting position comparativelyremote from the plane of the sole and is mounted and controlled in anovel manner to cause it to receive a component of movement to ward theplane of the sole as it swings laterally toward the other jaw and untilit arrives substantially at the end of its closing movement. In theconstruction shown the jaw which receives this movement is the innerjaw, and the other jaw is arranged to engage the upper materials at theouter side and closely adjacent to or in the plane of the sole. Such aconstruction enables the gripper jaws to engage the upper close to theplane of the sole without striking the sole bottom or the edge of thelast in their relative closing movement, and permits the use of grippershaving the advantages above set forth in lasting welt shoes since theclosing movement of theinner jaw is such that it may clear theupstanding lip or sewing rib of a sole.

WVhen grippers are used in connection with lasting machines, one aw ofthe gripper is usually positioned at the outer edge of the shoe bottomto aline the opening between the gripper jaws with the upstanding edgesof the upper materials. Lasts vary inshape and width, and a grippermechanism so constructed as to enable the grippers accurately to bepositioned relatively to therlateral periphery of the shoe independentlyof the eye of the operator is, therefore, very desirable. Anotherfeatureof the invention consists in a gripper having novel means toposition itrelatively to the and shoes work, the construction shown comprising jawsrelatively movable to grip upper materials between theln, one of saidjaws having associated therewith a non-gripping member for engaging theshoe and positioning the gripper in stock-seizing relation to the shoe.This member acts as a feeler and is shown as an ofiiset lug dependingfrom the outer jaw and supporting a contact roller, which is adapted forpositioning engagement with the outer side face of the shoe below theplane of the work'that is to be gripped. For lasting the toe end of ashoe, for example, two of these gripper mechanisms will be employed atopposite sides of the toe.

In tensioning and stretching the upper materials, grippers may exertexcessive strain on said materials, causing them to tear, unlessprovision is made for relative yield. In addition to the previouslymentioned features, the gripper mechanism herein shown is constructedand arranged yieldingly to grip the upper materials between the grippingjaws so that the upper materials may be released iii the grippers imposesuch strain upon the upper materials as to approach the tearing point.As shown, a coiled spring is interposed in the closing means for av pairof gripper jaws, and means are provided for adjusting the tension oi?said spring so that the gripping tension of the jaws may be varied withdifferent materials to be operated upon.

These, and other features of the invention will be more fully apparentfrom the detailed specification which follows, when read.

in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings, and will bepointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, illustrating apreferable embodiment oi? the present invention incorporated in thelasting machine of my said application Serial No. 635,183, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical. sectional view showing opposite side grippers withtheir operating mechanism in operative relation to a last and shoe whichhave been operatively positioned in said machine.

In the machine 01' said application, two gripper mechanisms arepositioned at each side i the longitudinal median line of the toe end ofa supported last, the two gripper mechanisms at one side being shown inFig. 1. The illustrated lasting mechanism includes a wiper head 31mounted torlongitudinal reciprocating movement through a connected poweractuated rod 22 and recessed to receive carrier plates 32 provided withrecessed edges within which are mounted pivoted wiper plates 33. Thesewiper plates are swung toward and from each other by a powerreciprocated rod 50 pivotally connected to the middle portion of anequalizing cross-bar 43 having adjustable and yielding connections withears 39 depending from the carrier plates 32.

The gripper mechanisms cooperate with this wiper mechanism in thelasting operation and are supported from pivoted carrier bars 148 whichare swung toward the opposite sides of a last and shoe supported betweenthem by av cam actuated bell crank lever 161, a bar 160 and links 159 toposition the grippers in operative relation to the shoe upper, the bars148 becoming automatically latched to intergeared pivoted members 172turned by power operated connections to swing the carrier bars 148outwardly from the shoe with them in timed relation to the closing ofthe wi er plates 33 over the bottom of the shoe. rior to the swinging ofthe bars 148 outwardly, the open jaws of the gripper mechanisms areclosed by jaw closing bars 153 pivoted to the laterally extended end ofa lever 166 which is operated by power in timed relation to the wiperand gripper outswinging mechanisms.

The gripper mechanisms illustrated in connection with the describedlasting mech anism each comprises an outer aw 146, here. in frequentlytermed a fixed jaw since it has no closing movement, this jaw having avertically extending shank portion 147 se cured at its upper end in anopening in the carrier bar 1 18 previously referred to, and a relativelymovable inner jaw 149 having its upper end pivotally attached to acollar 150 free to slide longitudinally on the shank portion 1-47 of thefixed gripper jaw. The fixed and movable jaws 14:6, 149 have later allyextended grip )ing faces, preferably serated as shown. The fixed jaw isintended to be positioned at the outer side of the shoe upper insubstantial alinement with the side face of the shoe and last. The fixedjaws of the grippers have lugs laterally offset and depending from thegripping faces 01'' said jaws in which are journaled il'eeler wheels 157arranged to engage the side of a shoe supported by and clamped between atoe support 59, (it) and a suitable clamping holddown 72, for instance,and to position the opening between the open jaws of the gripper in linewith the upstanding edges of the upper materials. In the drawings, sinceeach carrier bar 1453 supports two gripper mechanisms for swingingmovement toward the side of the shoe and last, only one of said grippermechanisms at each side need be and is shown as provided with a feeleror positioning wheel 157.

The movable jaw 1.49 in its opened position is raised a substantialdistance above the sole of a supported shoe (see Fig. 2) and is swunginwardly to provide a relatively wide opening between the jaws toemreceive the upper materials.

brace all of the upper materials. It is moved to and supported in thisposition, and in closing is moved bodily downwardly and simultaneouslyswung outwardly, gathering in all of the upper materialsand bringing itsgripping face close to the plane of the sole substantially at the end ofits closing movement. These movements are effected through an operatinglever 151 pivotally mounted at a point intermediate of its ends on thefixed jaw at a point on said jaw between its upper and lower ends, andhaving one arm, as shown, the shorter arm, pivotally connected to themovable jaw at a point above its lower gripping end, the lever thusserving as a link connection between the jaws. The other arm, as shown,the longer arm, of this operating lever, has a pin and slot connectionwith the lower end of a vertically movable rod 152, the upper end of therod extending through an opening in a jaw closing bar 153 with a coiledspring 155 sleeved on the upper end of the rod between the upper face ofbar 153 and a tension adjusting nut 154 threaded on the end of said rod.A collar 156 fixed on the rod engages the under face of bar 153 andlimits the upward movement of the rod relatively to the bar, determiningthe area of the upper-receiving opening between the jaws.

The spring 155 normally acts to elevate the rod 152 and to hold thecollar 156 against the bar 153. It also forms a yielding element in thejaw closing means so that when the bar 153 is lifted, the jaws 149, 146will yieldingly grip the upper materials between them and will yield asthe tension on the upper approaches a degree predetermined by theadjustment of the spring-tensioning nut 154C. 3

By attaching the movable jaw to the sliding collar 150 and connectingthe jaw closing lever to the movable jaw below said collar, the movablejaw, through the action of the lever 151 is carried bodily upward and iscoincidently swung inwardly away from the fixed jaw providing arelatively wide area of opening between the jaws to \Vhen the lever 151is reversely moved by the jaw closing bar 153, the movable jaw 149 ismoved bodily downward with the collar 150 and at the same time swingsoutwardly toward the fixed jaw, gathering in the upstanding edges of theupper materials and gripping them between the serrated gripping faces ofthe fixed and movable jaws. By reason of the combined sliding andswinging movement of the movable jaw,

only a comparatively short swinging movement of this jaw and of thelever151 is required to open and close the gripper mechanism.Additionally, the lower gripping face of the movable jaw, in its closingmovement, travels in a curved path which causes it to gather in all ofthe upper materials and to grip them close to the bottom face of thesole, and to do this without interference with the bottom of the sole,or, if the movable jaw is positioned on the outer side of the shoe, theedge of the last or sole.

It is contemplated that the gripping face at the lower end of themovable jaw will arrive at its lowest point substantially at the end ofits closing movement, as suggested by the dotted line in Fig. 2indicating the path of closing movement. The movement of this jaw towardand from the fixed jaw has two components of movement, onelongitudinally of the fixed jaw substantially parallel with its shankportion, and the other a laterally swinging component about a pivotpoint progressively approaching or receding from the gripping face ofthe fixed jaw. This movement enables the grippers to secure the abovementioned advantages when working with shoes having soles withupstanding sewing ribs since the swing of the movable jaw may be and isfigured to cause its edge to clear this rib in closing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:-

1. In a mechanism of the character described, a gripper comprising afixed jaw, a cooperating jaw pivotally connected to said fixed jaw toswing toward and from the fixed jaw and guided on said fixed jaw forbodily straight line movement of its pivot coincidently with saidswinging movement, and means for swinging and simultaneously moving saidcooperating jaw in a straight line lengthwise of the fixed aw.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, a gripper having afixedjaw and a pivoted, bodily movable jaw, a support for said jaws, a leverconnected to the pivoted jaw for closing and opening the jaws and forcoincidently effecting bodily movement of the pivoted jaw, an operatingmember movable relatively to said support, and means yieldinglyconnecting said lever and said operating member.

3. In a mechanism of the character de scribed, a gripper comprising afixed jaw and a movable jaw pivotally connected to the fixed jaw forswinging movement toward and from the fixedj aw and mounted forcoincident straight line bodily movement of its pivot, and a leverpivotally attached at one end to the movable jaw and intermediate itsends pivotally attached to the fixed 4. A. gripper mechanism comprisinga fixed jaw, a relatively movable jaw supported for swinging movementtoward and from the fixed jaw and for bodily sliding movement lengthwiseof said fixed. jaw, and an actuating member pivoted to said fixed jawand connected to said movable jaw to effect longitudinal sliding andcoincident swinging movement of said movable jaw relatively to the fixedjaw.

A. gripper mecl'ianism comprising a fixed jaw, a. pivoted relativelymovable jaw connected to said fixed jaw for relative longitudinalsliding movement, and an actuating lever fulcrumed on said fixed jaw andhaving one end connected to said movable jaw to effect longitudinalsliding and coincident lateral swinging movement of said jaw relativelyto the fixed jaw.

6. fr gripper mechanism comprising a fixed jaw having a supporting shankportion, a collar mounted on said shank portion for longitudinal slidingmovement, a movable jaw pivotally connected to said collar and bodilymovable with said collar, and a lever pivoted to said shank portion andhaving one end connected to said pivoted jaw and arranged, whenactuated, to effect longitudinal sliding and coincident lateral swinging movement oi said pivoted jaw.

7. 1i gripper mechanism. comprising a fixed jaw having a supportingshank por tiou, a collar freely slidablc longitudinally on said shankportion, a movable jaw having one end pivoted to said collar and bodilymovable with said collar longitudinally of the fixed jaw, a leverpivoted on said fixed jaw between its gripping end and said collar andhaving one end pivotally connected with said movable jaw at a pointlietween its ends, and means tor operating said lever bodily to slidesaid movable jaw longitudinally ot the fixed jaw and coincidently toswing said movable jaw toward and from said fixed jaw.

8. A gripper mechanism comprising a fixed jaw, a movable jaw supportedfor swinging movement toward and from the fixed jaw and for. bodilysliding movement lengthwise oi. said fixed jaw, an actuating membertulcrumed on said fixed aw and connected to said movable jaw to e'liectlongitudinal sliding and. coincident lateral swinging movement 01 saidjaw relatively to the fixed jaw, and means arranged yieldingly to movesaid movable jaw into stock gripping relation to the fixed jaw.

9. A gripper mechanism comprising a. fixed jaw having a supporting shankportion, a pivoted movable jaw having a shank portion connected to theshank portion oi the fixed jaw for longitudinal sliding movementrelatively thereto, a lever fulcrumed on the shank portion of the fixedaw and connected to said movable jaw to effect longitudinal sliding andcoincident lateral swinging movement oi? said aw relatively to the fixedjaw, means acting through said lever normally to hold said jawslongitudinally and laterally separated, and additional spring meansarranged to act throughsaid lever yieldingly to close said jawstogether.

10. A gripper mechanism comprising a fixed. jaw, a movable jaw, meansfor support ing said movable jaw tor coincident longitudinal sliding andlateral'swinging movement from a position laterally and verticallyremoved from the gripping portion of said fixed jaw, said means beingconstructed and ar 'anged to bring the gripping portion of the movablejaw into the plane of and in coiperative gripping relation to thegripping portion of the fixed aw approximately at the end 0t saidsliding and swinging movement, and an actuating lever tulcrumed on thefixed jaw and conn ed to said movable jaw to eli'ect said coincidentsliding and swinging movement 11. A grippermechanism comprising a fixedjaw, a pivoted movable aw, means for supporting said movable jaw torbodily sliding movement longitudinally oi? the fixed jaw, and anactuating lever tulcrumed on the fixed jaw and connected to saidnlovable aw to effect in one direction oi" actuati-m longitudinalsliding and coincident lateral swinging movement oi said movable jaw toposition said jaw in a location vertically and laterally removed tromthe grip iing portion of said fixed aw and in the reverse direction ofactuation to ellect coincident sliding and swinging movement of themovable jaw in path to bring its gripping portion into the pl aue of andin coilperative gripping relation with the gripping portion. oi? thefixed jaw approximately at the end of said coincident sliding andswinging movement.

12. it gripper mechanism. comprising cooperating stock seizing jaws, oneof said jaws having associated therewith a nongripping member forengaging the shoe and laterally positioning the gripper in stock seizingrelation to the shoe ncliminarily to the seizing oi the shoe stock bythe gripper jaws.

13. A gripper mechanism comprising rela tively movable stock grippingjaws, one of said jaws having a non-grip iiing member associatedtherewith and arranged to move with said jaw to engage a shoe at a pointremoved from the gripping point to position the gripper in operativestock gripping relation to the upper materials preliminarily to theseizing ot the shoe stock by the gripper jaws.

14. A gripper mechanism coi'nprising relatively movable stock seizingjaws and a non gripping extension below one jaw adapted forgripper-positioning engagement with the side of" ashoe below the portionoi the upper materials to be gripped preliminarily to the seizing oi theshoe stock by the gripper jaws.

l5. Gripper mechanism for use in lasting the toe ends of shoescomprising two grippers adapted to engage an upper at opposite si: of ashoe toe and a nongripping extension below each gripper for engagementwith the opposite sides of the toe portion of the shoe relatively toposition the shoe and grippers for the two grippers properly to seizethe upstanding shoe upper materials.

16. A gripper mechanism comprising a fixed jaw arranged to engage theouter side of a shoe upper, a relatively movable cooperating jaw at theinner side oil: the upper arranged for movement to grip shoe uppermaterials between it and the fixed jaw, and a non-gripping extensionfrom the fixed jaw arranged for gripper-positioning engagement with theouter side of the shoe,

upper at a point removed from the gripping point of said jaw in thedirection of the top of the last preliminarily to the seizing of theshoe stock by the gripper jaws.

1'7. Gripper mechanism for use in lasting the toe ends of shoescomprising two grippers adapted for bodily movement toward oppositesides of the toe end of a last and shoe upper and constructed andarranged to engage the upper materials at said opposite sides, eachgripper comprising a fixed jaw at the outer side 01 the shoe, arelatively movable cooperating jaw at the inner side of the upper, and anon-gripping extension from the fixed aw arranged for gripperpositioningengagement with the outer side of the shoe upper at a point removed fromthe gripping point ofsaid jaw in the direction of the top of the last.

18. Gripper mechanism for lasting shoes comprising two grippers adaptedto seize the margin of" the shoe stock at opposite sides of the shoe,each gripper comprising.

relatively movable stock-seizing jaws and l'iaving associated therewitha non-gripping member, said members being arranged to engage oppositesides of the shoe to position said grippers in stock seizing relation tothe sides of the shoe preliminary to the seizing of the shoe stock bythe gripper jaws.

19. An upper pulling gripper comprising a pair of cooperating grippingjaws elon-,

gated substantially in the direction of their pull upon the upper, alink connecting said jaws at points between their opposite ends to causerelative swinging movement of the jaws in closing, and means connectingthe outer end portions of the jaws for relative rectilinear movementthroughout the entire relat1ve closing movement of the aws.

20. A gripper comprising a pair of jaws one of which is mounted to swinglaterally toward the other in closing, and means connected to the outerend portion of said swinging aw to guide the outer end of said jaw in astraight path throughout the entire closing movement of the aw.

21. An upper pulling gripper comprising a pair of cooperating grippingjaws, a link connecting said jaws at points between their opposite endsto cause one of the jaws to swing laterally toward the other in closing,and a controlling member pivoted on the outer end portion of saidswinging aw and slidably mounted for rectilinear movement in a directionsubstantially parallel to the direction of the pull of the gripperthroughout the entire closing movement of said aw.

22. A gripper comprising a pair of jaws one of which is arranged toengage an upper on its outer side and is held substantially stationaryduring the closing movement of the other jaw, and means for controllingthe closing movement of said other jaw to cause it to swing laterallyover the shoe bottom toward the first jaw with a bodily movement from astarting position comparatively remote from the plane of the sole of theshoe and in a direction transverse to said plane throughout its entirelateral swinging movement.

23. In gripper mechanism, the combination with relatively movablegripper jaws, of an extension on one of said jaws for engaging thelateral periphery of a shoe to position the jaws relatively to the shoebefore they close upon the upper material.

24. In gripper mechanism, the combination with relatively movablegripper jaws, of means on one of said aws for determining the correctrelation of the gripper to a shoe, said means being arranged to engagethe lateral periphery of the shoe adjacent to the gripping face of saidjaw in a loca tion farther from the edge of the upper than said face.

25. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a grippermounted for positioning movement in a direction transverse to thelateral periphery of a shoe, of means carried by said gripper forengaging the lateral periphery of the shoe to limit said positioningmovement.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES F. P YM.

